Most Popular Books by Nikki Grimes

Poems and haiku verses provide glimpses of life in the city.

Twenty-eight poems celebrate family, culture, writing, and the spirit of a creative child.

In this Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book, Children''s Literature Legacy Award-winner Nikki Grimes explores though her celebrated poetry how a supportive teacher can be the key to unlocking a dreamer''s imaginative power through creative writing. Gabby''s world is filled with daydreams. However, what began as an escape from her parents'' arguments has now taken over her life. But with the help of a new teacher, ''Gabby the dreamer'' might just become ''Gabby the writer'' and the words that once carried her away might allow her to soar. Written in vivid, accessible poems, this remarkable verse novel is a celebration of imagination, of friendship, of one girl''s indomitable spirit, and of a teacher''s ability to reach out and change a life. Coretta Scott King Author Honor book NCTE Notable Children''s Books in the English Language Arts Kirkus Reviews Best Book

A collection of poems describes a young boy''s life with his working mother as he establishes his own identity and develops a close relationship with his mother''s friend, Blue.

While studying the Harlem Renaissance, students at a Bronx high school read aloud poems they''ve written, revealing their innermost thoughts and fears to their formerly clueless classmates.

An awe-inspiring Christmas tale from multi-award-winning poet Nikki Grimes. The caravan traveled through wilderness, uphill and down, for hours that spun into days. Then at last, glittering diamond-bright, Bethlehem appeared through the haze. With glittering poetry and stunning watercolor artwork, Lullaby for the King ushers readers into the awe and wonder of the Christmas story. Animals from across the ancient Palestinian landscape lumber, gambol, crawl, fly, and parade toward Bethlehem with gifts worthy of the newborn King. Rare ebony wood, a finely tuned harp, mustard and saffron, a zither, apricot cakes, and other treasures are carried to the manger. The animals bow low and join the music of the angels in a welcoming lullaby. New York Times bestselling author Nikki Grimes and illustrator Michelle Carlos bring together a captivating tale of awe, wonder, and imagination that is sure to become a holiday classic.

In this moving account of loss, a boy takes a walk in the woods and makes a discovery that changes his understanding of his father. week after the funeral I stare in the morning mirror Angry that my father’s eyes Stare back at me. Confused and distraught after the death of his father, a boy opens an envelope he left behind and is surprised to find a map of the woods beyond their house, with one spot marked in bright red. But why? The woods had been something they shared together, why would his father want him to go alone? Slowly, his mind settles as he sets off through the spaces he once explored with his dad, passing familiar beech and black oak trees, flitting Carolina wrens, and a garter snake they named Sal. When he reaches the spot marked on the map, he finds pages upon pages of drawings of woodland creatures, made by his father when he was his age. What he sees shows him a side of his dad he never knew, and something even deeper for them to share together. His dad knew what he really needed was a walk in the woods. New York Times bestselling author Nikki Grimes and the Caldecott Award winning illustrator Jerry Pinkney spent the early days of the pandemic emailing back and forth and talking about collaborating on a book, with Jerry sharing all of the pictures he took of the woods around his house. From this, they conjured a story of a boy’s struggle with grief, and all the things he sees and feels on a walk through the forest. Jerry sadly passed away in the fall of 2021, but not before he delivered tight pencil sketches of the forests he loved. When his son Brian took on the task of completing the illustrations, he found himself connecting with his father in a whole new way, his experience mirroring that of the boy in the book. The result is a simultaneously touching and deeply authentic story about the ways shared pastimes keep us close to those we’ve lost. A New York Times Best Children''s Book of the Year A Smithsonian Magazine Best Children''s Book of the Year An NPR Book We Love A Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of the Year A Horn Book Fanfare Book A Bookstagang Best Illustrated Picture Book of the Year A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year A Shelf Awareness Best Book of the Year! One of BookPage''s Ten Best Books of the Year A CSMCL Best Multicultural Children’s Book of the Year A Bank Street Best Children''s Book of the Year A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection An Evanston Public Library Great Book for Kids

Poems about being thankful.

This spirited collection of poems introduces young readers to Danitra Brown, the most splendiferous girl in town, and her best friend, Zuri Jackson. "The poignant text and lovely pictures are an excellent collaboration, resulting in a look at touching moments of universal appeal."--School Library Journal.

"In this collection of poetry, Nikki Grimes looks afresh at the poets of the Harlem Renaissance -- including voices like Langston Hughes, Georgia Douglas Johnson, and many more writers of importance and resonance from this era -- by combining their work with her own original poetry. Using "The Golden Shovel" poetic method, Grimes has written a collection of poetry that is as gorgeous as it is thought-provoking. This special book also includes original artwork in full-color from some of today''s most exciting African American illustrators, who have created pieces of art based on Nikki''s original poems. Featuring art by: Cozbi A. Cabrera, R. Gregory Christie, Pat Cummings, Jan Spivey Gilchrist, Ebony Glenn, Nikki Grimes, E.B. Lewis, Frank Morrison, Christopher Myers, Brian Pinkney, Sean Qualls, James Ransome, Javaka Steptoe, Shadra Strickland, and Elizabeth Zunon. A foreword, an introduction to the history of the Harlem Renaissance, author''s note, poet biographies, and index makes this not only a book to cherish, but a wonderful resource and reference as well"--

Poems expressing the hopes, fears, joys, and sorrows of growing up.

This emotionally resonant novel in verse by award-winning author Nikki Grimes celebrates choosing to be true to yourself. Garvey''s father has always wanted Garvey to be athletic, but Garvey is interested in astronomy, science fiction, reading—anything but sports. Feeling like a failure, he comforts himself with food. Garvey is kind, funny, smart, a loyal friend, and he is also overweight, teased by bullies, and lonely. When his only friend encourages him to join the school chorus, Garvey''s life changes. The chorus finds a new soloist in Garvey, and through chorus, Garvey finds a way to accept himself, and a way to finally reach his distant father—by speaking the language of music instead of the language of sports.

Alternating poems compare and contrast the conflicted feelings of Ishmael, son of the Biblical patriarch Abraham, and Sam, a teenager in New York City, as they try to come to terms with being abandoned by their fathers and with the love they feel for their younger stepbrothers.

Poems describe the different shoes children wear, including sandals, running shoes, golf shoes, and workboots.

Things can be much more than things. Why do we love the things that we do? The old guitar, the champagne flutes, the miniature model car—and what happens when those objects change hands? In the buying and the selling of things, objects once loved but perhaps discarded or forgotten, we find a treasure trove of untold stories. . . stories of pain, joy, hope, dreams, disappointment. What new purposes might unfold when these objects move from old owners to new? What spiritual, unseen things happen in that ordinary human transaction? Can love be passed on through pre-owned possessions? New York Times bestselling author Nikki Grimes invites us to discover what her grandmother taught her—how there is value in the old and used, and how things are much more than things—they are stories of our humanity. Wise, thoughtful, and unsparingly candid, this unique and moving collection of stories-as-verse helps us on our journeys of letting go, rediscovering purpose, and experiencing redemption and renewal for the worn out and broken places in our hearts. Step in, look around, have a listen, and be twice blessed.

Gabriel “paced the halls of heaven” as he memorized God’s message to Mary. He wondered what she would say. The Christmas story unfolds, as never before, through the voices of those who witnessed the Messiah’s birth. Listen to Joseph’s struggle. Rejoice with Elizabeth and Zachariah. Worship with the magi. Hear the fear in Herod’s voice. Receive the blessing of Simeon and Anna. And, like the shepherds, shout for joy!